CALAMARI GREAT TO CATCH AWESOME TO EAT Matt Sherriff’s tips on catching and cooking. Matt Sherriff showing some form.
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part from having the potential to destroy your favourite fishing attire with a well-directed ink blast, there’s not much to dislike about the humble squid. They’re great fun to catch for all ages, taste absolutely delicious and are one of the best baits going around! Southern Calamari Squid live for around one year and can reach a tube length of over 50cm although the average size encountered is usually around 30 – 40cm weighing in at roughly 1 – 2kg. Sexual maturity occurs when they are approximately 7 – 8 months of age when the squid are 15 – 20cm in length. Calamari will generally spawn in water depths of 3 – 5 metres during the warmer months of the year. With the squid season about to fire up again (North Coast closure finishes at midnight on October 31st and East Coast closure finishes at midnight November 14th) it’s time to stock up with some new squid jigs and get amongst the action. This time of year, the squid will be moving into shallower weed beds looking to
spawn and it is a great time to target them as they will aggressively attack jigs as they hang around the areas where they lay their eggs. On clear days you will often be able to see clusters of these eggs in shallow areas amongst the weed and this is a great sign that the squid won’t be too far away! As far as jigs go, it’s a great idea to have a variety of colours and if you’re fishing with friends all start with different jigs. If you find one person is catching more than everyone else, change to the same colour and reap the rewards! If you’re on your own and things are slow, keep changing your jig periodically until you find one they’re interested in. Next time you’re visiting your local tackle store, ask them about Egi clips. These cool little clips save having tying your jigs on, allowing super quick changes and are small enough not to affect the action of the jig. When it comes to purchasing jigs, buy the best you can afford. All jigs will catch on the good days, but the more expensive jigs have much more attractive actions and sink rates and are made of
better materials. We have had a lot of success with the red head Yoshikawa jigs and also the more expensive Hayabusa models. A 2 – 4 or 3 – 5kg rod with a medium taper, coupled up with a 2000 – 3000 sized reel and 6 – 15lb line (braid is preferred but not necessary) is ideal for squid fishing. For many, this will be the same rod that they use for their Bream, Salmon and Trout fishing. For those more dedicated to squid fishing there are specially designed Egi rods available which are designed to impart extra action on the jigs whilst having a parabolic curve designed to absorb the lunges of the squid. Some of these rods are well over $300, but there are now a few available under $100 such as the new Crucis Tempesta which makes them a much more affordable option for those wanting to give them a try. The method to successfully target squid is to get your lure into the zone as quickly and for as long as possible during your retrieve. Your jig must be worked as close to the bottom as practical while trying to
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Fishing News - Page 41
